Tag Archives: Kyriakos Matsis (Κυριάκος Μάτσης)

The memorial is dedicated to Michalis Karaolis (Μιχάλης Καραολής), Kyriakos Matsis (Κυριάκος Μάτσης) and Nikos Georgiou (Νίκος Γεωργίου). The initiative was taken by Zina Kanther who funded its construction. The unveiling took place on November 19th 1961.

The initiative for the memorial was taken in 2002 by the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle (SIMAE). The unveiling took place on June 27th 2002.

The pyramid behind Kyriakos Matsis symbolizes the tomb. It is torn in two parts because of the explosion of the grenade. Matsis seems to be coming out through the split pyramid, his tomb. Thus, the explosion of the grenade which caused his death, offers him immortality.

The initiative for the memorial was taken in 2008 by Lakatamia National Union “Kyriakos Matsis”. The unveiling took place on October 4th 2009.

On the wall behind the statue, on the (viewer’s) left hand side, are written his words: “I fight for this land, so those who water it with their sweat can live free, able to claim its ownership and management” (Αγωνίζομαι τη γη αυτή να τη ζουν αυτοί που τη ποτίζουν με τον ιδρώτα τους και να περπατούν πάνω της ελεύθεροι, διαφεντευτές της, κυρίαρχοί της). On the right hand side is noted his answer to Field Marshal Harding: “We do not fight for the money, we fight for the values” (Ου περί χρημάτων τον αγώνα ποιούμεθα αλλά περί αρετής).

Kokkinothrimithia detention camp was the place where many of the EOKA 1955-59 fighters were imprisoned and some of them executed. According to the Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle (SIMAE), the number of detained EOKA fighters was more than 3000. The detention camp closed in 1959, when the EOKA guerilla war ended. Until November 1955, when the camp opened, the prisoners were kept at Nicosia central prison and at Kerynia Castle.

The guerrilla fighter statue was donated in 2011 by the artist Giorgos Mavroyenis as homage to the EOKA struggle.The memorial to the 1955-59 political prisoners was commissioned by SIMAE, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Association of Political Prisoners. The unveiling took place on November 2nd 2002.

The initiative for all the busts was taken by the Association of Political Prisoners. SIMAE commissioned those of Andreas and Georgios Karyos, and Fotis Pittas. In the cases of Evagoras Papachristoforou and Kyriakos Matsis, family members (Panayiota Papachristoforou and Yiannakis Matsis, respectively) funded the busts. Faneromenis’ church commissioned Michail Giorgallas’ bust and the Cypriot Workers Confederation (SEK/ΣΕΚ) commissioned Markos Drakos’ bust.

The unveiling of Andreas Karyos, Michail Giorgallas and Markos Drakos busts took place in October 2008, when for the others the official ceremony followed a year later, on November 1st 2009.

Selected sources:~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2008.9, documents June 6, 2008; January 11, 2008.~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2009.10, documents June 6, 2008; October 9, 2008; November 14, 2008; Meeting Minutes May 7, 2009; October 9, 2008.~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2009.11, document May 12, 2009.